Read more about The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the armed forces of India. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a

THE INDIAN AIR FORCE info

The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the armed forces of India. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the Indian Empire and the prefix Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during World War II.
With strength of approximately 170,000 personnel and 1,306 aircraft, the Indian Air Force is the world's fourth largest. In recent years, the IAF has undertaken an ambitious expansion and modernisation program to replace its aging Soviet-era fighter jets. Among the various expansion plans is the MRCA program under which the IAF plans to induct 126 fighter jets at a cost of US$12 billion.

FIGHTER AND COMBAT AIR CRAFT

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI (MKI stands for Russian Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski (Cyrillic: Модернизированный Коммерческий Индийский), "Modernized Commercial for India".) (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) is the IAF's prime air superiority fighter. The Su-30K variant was first acquired in 1996. That year, the IAF signed a US$1.6 billion contract with Russia for the supply of 50 Su-30MKIs and the technology transfer and license to manufacture 140 Su-30MKIs by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.The two-seat, multi-role fighter has a maximum speed of 2500 km/h (Mach 2.35) and a service ceiling of 20,000 meters. With one mid-air refueling, it can travel as far as 8000 km, making it a suitable platform to deliver strategic weapons. .In 2007, the IAF spent US$700 million to upgrade its remaining 10 Su-30Ks and 8 SU-30MKs to the MKI Standard and signed a contract for the supply of 40 additional MKIs with Russia. The IAF is banking upon the 230 Sukhoi-30MKIs contracted from Russia at an overall cost of around $8.5 billion to be the mainstay of India's air defence till well past 2020. In fact, the IAF is now keen to order another 50 Sukhois.
The MiG-29 (NATO: Fulcrum) is the IAF's dedicated air superiority fighter. It has a top speed of 2,445 km/h (Mach 2.3) and is armed with a 30 mm cannon along with R-60 & R-27 R missiles. India was the first international customer of the MiG-29. The Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 50 MiG-29s in 1980 while the aircraft was still in its initial development phase. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and the more efficient and powerful radar (Zhuk-ME). The upgraded Indian version is known as Baaz (Hindi for Hawk) and forms a crucial component of the second-line offensive aircraft-fleet of the IAF after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

M.I.G-29
The MiG-29 (NATO: Fulcrum) is the IAF's dedicated air superiority fighter. It has a top speed of 2,445 km/h (Mach 2.3) and is armed with a 30 mm cannon along with R-60 & R-27 R missiles. India was the first international customer of the MiG-29. The Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 50 MiG-29s in 1980 while the aircraft was still in its initial development phase. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and the more efficient and powerful radar (Zhuk-ME). The upgraded Indian version is known as Baaz (Hindi for Hawk) and forms a crucial component of the second-line offensive aircraft-fleet of the IAF after the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

Mirage 2000s (known as Vajra (Thunderbolt) in Indian service), capable of flying at 2,500 km/h (Mach 2.35), are the IAF's premier multirole fighter jet. These aircraft can carry a wide range of weaponry including two 30 mm integral cannon, two Matra Super 530D medium-range missiles, two R550 Magic close combat missiles and various ground attack munitions.India has 41 Mirage 2000H and 10 Mirage 2000TH trainers in service which are to be upgraded to the 2000-5 Mk 2 standard. Under the upgrade, the entire airframe will be stripped down to be re-wired and re-equipped with new avionics, mission computers, glass cockpits, helmet-mounted displays, electronic warfare suites and weapon systems to extend and enhance the operational life of the multi-role fighters by around 20 years.

Since 1963, over 450 MiG-21 combat aircraft have served in the IAF. Most of these MiGs have been upgraded since induction. In 1996, India signed a US$300 million deal with Russia to upgrade 125 MiG-21 Bis, and a multi-million dollar deal was awarded to Israel's Elta for upgrading the avionics of the MiGs. Despite a series of crashes during the 1990s, the Indian Air Force has decided to upgrade about 125 of the MiG-21 Bis in its inventory to the MiG-21 "Bison" standard. Because of their frequent crashes, the MiG-21s have been dubbed flying coffins by the media.As of 2007, about 250 MiG-21s remain in service with the Indian Air Force and are planned to be replaced by the indigenously built HAL Tejas starting in 2010.

Squadrons of Jaguar (known as the Shamsher in Indian service) and MiG-27 aircraft serve as the IAF's primary ground attack force. The twin-engine Jaguar IB, with a top speed of Mach 1.6, is capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The IAF has 100 Jaguar IS and 8 maritime strike Jaguar IM aircraft. The single-seat MiG-27 carries one GSh-6-30 six-barreled 30 mm cannon, 4000 kg of general-purpose ordnance, SPPU-22 and SPPU-6 gun pods, and various guided air-to-surface missiles. In January 2009, India successfully completed the upgrade programs on the Air Force's MiG-27 ground attack variants.DRDO carried out the avionics upgrades on the fighter aircraft. In the upgraded MiG-27s, the avionics system is built around a modular mission computer termed Core Avionics Computer (CAC). The upgraded ground attack fighters are equipped with Inertial Navigation and Global Positioning System (INGPS) providing accurate navigation during aircraft sorties.To provide more accuracy to the aircraft's weapon systems, accurate ranging sensors such as Laser Designator Pod (LDP) and Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) have been integrated in it also. To improve situational awareness of the pilot during air combat, a digital map generator has been integrated along with a digital video recording system, which helps in mission analysis and debrief support.

In 2004, the IAF ordered 3 IAI Phalcon Airborne Early Warning radar system from Israel Aerospace Industries, which is considered to be the most advanced AEW&C system in the world. The air force will use 3 newly acquired Ilyushin Il-76 Phalcons as the platform for this radar. In May 2008, India appears to have ordered an additional three Phalcon radar-equipped IL-76s from Israel,pushing up the value of the deal from US$1.1 to 1.5 billion. An Indian defense delegation headed by Defense Secretary Vijay Singh, visited Israel in November 2008 to discuss the purchase of the planes and missiles from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It has been reported that India has placed a follow-up order for 3 more Phalcon radar equipped IL-76 from Israel at a cost of $1.5 billion, pushing the total number to be acquired up to 6. The first Phalcons arrived in India on 25 May 2009 and are expected to be commissioned into service by 2010.[97] IAF Air Chief said that it would take a year and a half to get each and every combat plane in the IAF inventory to link with the Phalcon.

The IAF operates 25 Ilyushin Il-76s for military transport duties such as heavy lift at all operational levels. The Il-76 MD is a strategic air-lifter with a payload of 95,000 lb and a range of over 5,000 km (2,700 nm; 3,100 statute miles). In 2003, the IAF orderd 6 IL-78MKI aircraft from Uzbekistan and are fitted with aerial refueling pods from Israel. India took delivery of the tankers in 2004.
IAF has a fleet of 64 Avro 748 which has a payload of 5,136 kg (11,323 lb) and has a range of 1,715 km (926 nm; 1,066 mi). The air force also operates a fleet of 94 twin-engined turboprop Antonov An-32 and 73 Dornier Do 228 utility aircraft. In an effort to infuse fresh life into its transport fleet, the Indian Air Force will begin an upgrade programme for its Antonov An-32s and Dornier Do 228s in 2009.

An important objective of the IAF is to support ground troops by providing air cover and by transporting men and essential commodities across the battlefield. For this purpose the Air Force maintains a fleet of helicopters. Helicopters in service with the IAF are: